TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays mounted a late comeback to defeat the Washington Nationals 5-3 on April 1, 2025, at Rogers Centre, improving their record to 4-2 and holding third place in the American League East. The Nationals, now 1-4 and fourth in the National League East, struggled to maintain an early lead as Toronto capitalized in the eighth inning to secure the victory.
The game remained scoreless until the second inning when the Blue Jays struck first. George Springer singled, followed by Will Wagner’s single, setting the stage for Bo Bichette’s two-run double that scored Springer and Wagner. Ernie Clement’s sacrifice bunt then drove in Bichette, giving Toronto a 3-0 lead. Nationals starter Trevor Williams allowed 10 hits over five innings, surrendering three earned runs with a 5.40 ERA.
Washington responded in the sixth inning, narrowing the gap to 3-2. CJ Abrams doubled off Blue Jays starter José Berríos, who exited after 5.2 innings with a 6.75 ERA, allowing two runs on four hits. Abrams scored on Keibert Ruiz’s two-run single, which also drove in Alex Call, who had doubled earlier in the inning. Berríos struck out eight but left with runners on base, handing the ball to reliever Yariel Rodríguez.
The Nationals tied the game in the seventh when Abrams tripled off Rodríguez and scored on a wild pitch, making it 3-3. However, Toronto’s bullpen faltered in the eighth. Nationals reliever Eduardo Ferrer, who took the loss (0-1, 4.91 ERA), struggled with control, committing a fielding error that allowed Springer to reach base. Wagner’s sacrifice bunt advanced Springer, and Alan Roden’s single drove him in, putting the Blue Jays ahead 4-3. Bichette followed with another RBI single, scoring Gimenez and extending the lead to 5-3.
Chad Green (1-0, 7.71 ERA) earned the win with a scoreless 0.1 innings, and Trevor Hoffman closed the game with a perfect ninth, securing his second save with a 0.00 ERA. The Blue Jays’ offense was powered by 12 hits, with Bichette, Springer, Wagner, and Kirk each recording two. Abrams led the Nationals with three hits, including two doubles and a triple, finishing with a .286 batting average.
Defensively, both teams executed double plays, with Toronto’s Bichette-to-Gimenez-to-Guerrero Jr. combination and Washington’s Williams-to-García Jr.-to-Lowe play standing out. The Nationals left five runners on base, while the Blue Jays stranded nine, highlighting missed opportunities on both sides.
The game, attended by 21,845 fans, was played under a closed roof with a temperature of 68 degrees. Umpires Laz Diaz, Derek Thomas, Mike Estabrook, and Erich Bacchus officiated, with the first pitch at 7:07 p.m. and a total duration of 2 hours and 37 minutes.
Toronto’s late surge showcased their resilience, while Washington’s inability to hold the lead underscored early-season challenges. The Blue Jays next face the Nationals on April 2, as both teams continue their series at Rogers Centre.
